HC agrees to hear plea against mass leave of bureaucrats

New Delhi, Jan 8 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Friday agreed to hear a plea seeking action against bureaucrats who went on mass leave to protest against the suspension of two DANICS cadre officers by th e city government recently.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said it will hear on January 27 along with petitions relating to the spat between the central and the Delhi government.

Around 200 DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) officers gone on mass leave on December 31, after two senior officers of Delhi home department were suspended on December 29 for allegedly refusing to sign on two cabinet notes related to hiking salaries of public prosecutors and prison staff.As many as 70 Indian Administrative Service officers had also gone on half-day leave that day in solidarity with the agitators.

The union home ministry had termed the suspension by the Delhi government as null and void.

The plea by Delhi resident Indu Prakash Singh said an enquiry should be conducted to identify the officers who have instigated the unauthorised mass leave and disciplinary proceedings should be initiated against them.

The Supreme Court had held that public servants do not entertain legal right to strike and therefore the act was illega l, the plea said. The officers by going on mass leave had violated Central Civil Services Conduct Rules, which prohibited them from doing so, it added.

Meanwhile, the court dismissed a plea seeking setting aside of the suspension of the two officials. The bench said the petition was not maintainable as it w as not in public interest.